It is generally known that human beings are susceptible to social pressure and that they can take actions or decisions (even clearly wrong ones) due to this influence. Since the 1950s, social psychology has questioned the reasons that may lead people to behave in an illogical or harmful manner to others when they are under pressure from the group.
This social pressure can also be enhanced by the existence of figures who present themselves as endowed with authority and charisma (such as leaders), or who adapt excessively to their status and the roles that derive from it. In this Psychology-Online article we will deepen the topic to understand What is social pressure and how to overcome it.
What is social pressure
We can affirm that social pressure translates into a person’s inability to maintain judgment, opinion and beliefs in the face of pressure from other people or group pressure. When this does not manifest itself rarely, but continuously, and the person gives in and allows himself to be carried away every day by what others say, believe and do, he is clearly subject to social pressure.
Causes of social pressure
The human being, as a social being by nature, from the first phases of his childhood urgently needs to satisfy all relevance needs and, precisely because of this basic need for relevance, we can begin to give in to the social pressure exerted by the environment and the society in which we live.
Now, what causes social pressure in adolescents? In this vital stage, social pressure it becomes more intense Since, in young people, the need to belong and feel part of a group is taken to extremes and directly influences the formation and development of personality. But it is precisely in adolescence where, by giving in to social pressure, it decisively hits the identity of the individual.
There is research that claims to have found a direct correspondence between the beginning of bad habits and the social pressure exerted by the group during this important phase of life. Throughout life, social pressure can continue to affect our daily actions and influence our decisions in a completely regular way.
Social pressure has its origin in a series of causes that produce the need to be guided by another series of people, as well as to be socially accepted by them. Among the various factors, the following should undoubtedly be highlighted:
- Personal insecurity.
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- Physical appearance deficiencies.
- Feeling of inferiority.
- Lack of personality and motivation.
- .
- Difficulty relating.
- Feeling of social rejection.
- Lack of affection.
Effects of social pressure
There are numerous studies and cases, in the field of social psychology, in which it is shown that a person can change their mind and even overcome their own limits and principles if the rest of the group to which they belong has a common or contrary idea. hers. This happens only because of the fact of obeying, because of social pressure, because of fear of being rejected and because of feeling accepted.
Asch experiment
Designed by Polish social psychologist Solomon Ash in 1956. According to the scholar’s research, being a member of a group is a sufficient condition to modify one’s own actions and even a person’s judgments and visual perceptions. In the experiment, a subject is brought into a room with other people, actors who had previously received instructions on how to behave.
Asch shows a picture with three numbered lines and asks each person in the room to identify the longest line. The actors responded first, deliberately choosing the wrong line, making a blatant and obvious mistake.
The results showed that, on average, 32% of the test subjects gave clearly incorrect answers, demonstrating once again that people tend to adapt to the group despite the evidence evident before their eyes.
To learn more about this experiment about social pressure, check out our article.
Milgram experiment
Obedience to authority is ingrained in all of us. This is demonstrated by an experiment carried out in 1961 by psychologist Stanley Milgram who wanted to measure the extent to which we are willing to obey “bosses”, even if their demands cause suffering to other people.
A series of individuals were asked to play the part of the teachers and administer electric shocks to students who answered the questions incorrectly. The students were in another room, they responded badly on purpose and, pretending to receive electric shocks, asked for mercy.
Despite their complaints, most of the “teachers” continued to administer electric shocks whenever an authority figure asked them to do so. In the end, 65% of the subjects received lethal electric shocks. The results confirmed that normal people would even be willing to kill to obey a figure who shows authority.
In our post we tell you more about this test about social pressure.
Zimbardo experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment was an attempt to investigate the psychological effects of power perceived, focusing on the fight between prisoners and jailers. He was brought to Stanford University in 1971, by a research group led by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo and using university students as volunteers.
The experiment consisted of assigning the students who agreed to participate in the roles of guards and prisoners in a simulated prison. Zimbardo demonstrated that individuals in a united group tend to lose personal identity, conscience, and the sense of responsibility, feeding the emergence of antisocial impulses.
Within hours of beginning the experiment, those assigned as guards began harassing the prisoners. These were mocked with insults and were continually subdued. In less than a week, some guards had become sadistic and intensified their abuse of prisoners as the days went by.
None of the participants who became jailers showed signs of sadistic personality before the start of the study. The results show that people conform to the social roles they are required to play, especially if the roles are as stereotyped as those of prison guards.
Consequences of social pressure
How does social pressure affect? Through social pressure, a certain influence is exerted on people’s decision-making and behavior. And although, sometimes, there are positive and negative consequences, it is the negative effects of social pressure that begin and intercede most on the well-being of the individual. Among them we can highlight the feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt or disappointment in the person who gives in.
How to overcome social pressure
What can we do about all this? You have to work on it, because social pressure can be defeated. For this you have to ask for help from a professionalso that they set objectives to achieve: reinforce self-esteem, improve social skills and personal values, learn fundamental aspects such as, for example, positivity.
However, here are some strategies that can help prevent and combat social pressure in the different contexts in which it can occur:
On the part of the company and the center management
- Accompaniment.
- Promote teamwork.
- Promote the company.
- Promote dialogue and work relationships.
- Promote a good work environment.
- Facilitate the balance between work and private life for workers.
On the part of the individual
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Moscovici, S., Mugni, G. and Pérez, J. (1991). Unconscious social influence: studies in experimental social psychology. Anthropos Publishing House.
- Ibáñez, T., Botella, M., Domènech, M., Lajeunesse, J., Martínez, L., Pallí, C., Pujal, M. and Tirado, FJ (2004). Introduction to social psychology. Eureca Publishing.